The two figures darted through the forest, swift and silent.
Ling Tian led the way, his grip firm around Xiao Ning'er's hand. The urgency in his movements left no room for hesitation.
After a steep climb up a forgotten trail, they reached a rocky outcrop hidden beneath dense foliage. With a few practiced steps, Ling Tian pressed his palm against a crevice.
A low rumble.
The rocks shifted, revealing a narrow passage.
Xiao Ning'er looked at him in wonder, but said nothing as he pulled her inside.
Beyond the entrance lay a small cave — dry, sheltered, and surprisingly warm. Ling Tian had prepared it weeks ago, stocked with food, fresh water, and even a simple bedroll. He had foreseen the chaos that would soon engulf Glory City — and prepared accordingly.
As the entrance sealed behind them, muffling the world outside, the tension in the air finally eased.
Safe.
For now.
Xiao Ning'er knelt by a small fire Ling Tian started, her arms wrapped around herself.
The adrenaline from the fight had worn off, leaving only exhaustion — and a gnawing chill.
Without a word, Ling Tian shrugged off his outer cloak and draped it over her shoulders.
She startled slightly at the gesture, then looked up at him. The firelight danced across his face, highlighting the sharp lines of his jaw, the quiet strength in his gaze.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Ling Tian sat across from her, one knee drawn up casually.
"You're strong," he said, voice low. "But you've carried too much alone."
Her fingers tightened around the cloak.
"…Strength is the only thing that kept me from being crushed," she said, her voice a brittle thread. "By my family, by expectations… by betrayal."
Her eyes lifted to meet his.
"But with you…" she hesitated, then let the words tumble out, raw and unguarded, "…for the first time, I don't feel alone."
The confession stunned her more than him.
Ling Tian leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees.
"You'll never be alone again," he said simply. "Not while I'm here."
Silence stretched between them — thick, electric.
She rose slowly and crossed the space between them.
Kneeling before him, Xiao Ning'er hesitated just a breath…then rested her forehead lightly against his chest.
Ling Tian stiffened — only for a moment — then gently wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer.
Her body trembled, not from fear, but from the sheer relief of being held.
For a long time, they stayed like that, hearts beating in slow, steady rhythm.
Not as warriors.
Not as cultivators.
But as two broken souls finding solace in each other.
Outside, the wind howled past the hidden sanctuary.But inside, there was only warmth.
And the slow, inevitable deepening of a bond neither of them could deny.